New family studies major stresses child development

July 24, 2001

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University is unveiling a new
family studies major with a child development emphasis just in
time for new education requirements taking effect for many childcare
professionals.

The new degree prepares graduates to work with infants, toddlers,
pre-schoolers and school-age children in a variety of settings,
such as Head Start, Michigan School Readiness and child development
centers. The program meets state requirements for childcare center
directors, while students also will be prepared to work in the
growing field of parent education.

The new program, believed to be the first of its kind in Michigan,
begins in the fall in cooperation with Kellogg, Lake Michigan
and Southwestern community colleges. The "2+2" program
allows students to complete two years of classes at the community
college level then earn their bachelor's degrees at WMU's Southwest
and Battle Creek regional centers.

The child development concentration is designed to provide
a comprehensive, child-focused degree program taught from a family
systems theory perspective. It blends early childhood classes
with family studies classes, combining the best of what Michigan
community colleges offer in the field with the expertise of faculty
from the WMU Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in cooperation
with the WMU Division of Continuing Education.

"Beginning in the year 2003, one-half of all Head Start
employees must have a child development or related degree,"
says Linda Dannison, chairperson of the WMU Department of Family
and Consumer Sciences. "So we're really responding to national
trends here."

In addition, many programs are springing up across the state
to support parents and their young children, Dannison adds. Education
standards for childcare professionals working in these programs
also are steadily increasing.

Another beauty of the new degree is its flexibility for non-traditional
students, says Lori Farrer, a WMU clinical instructor in child
development. Since many of these students have families, they
face serious time and financial constraints. The new program
lets them take two year's worth of classes at the community college
level, then conveniently complete their degrees at WMU's participating
regional centers. Scholarship money also is available for qualified
applicants.

"Many of the students who will enter this program are
working full or part time and have families of their own,"
Farrer says. "It's just not feasible for them to come to
WMU's main campus to complete their degree."

The new program also offers specialization in working with
young children that was not available before in a four-year program,
Dannison says. Students interested in working with young children
previously could obtain a child development associate's degree
from a community college, but then would generally have to obtain
an elementary education degree for their bachelor's degree. The
new program offers more specialized coursework for working with
infants, toddlers, pre-school children and their families.

Dannison says plans are in the works to expand the program
to other community colleges. Judging from the response she has
received so far, she expects it to steadily grow.

"Everybody is saying, 'We need this,'" Dannison
says. "And working with community colleges helps make it
happen. We can build on the unique programs that they have developed
for their communities and use them as a resource for Western
Michigan University."